Carolina Panthers, Enough Personnel for a 3-4 Defense?

Linebackers

The Linebacker corps start with the heart and soul, Kuechly. After moving on from Davis, the team decided to go younger in an effort to become more relevant and competitive, and having the still improving Shaq Thompson helps alleviate some of the loss of losing a longtime Panther in Davis. Newcomer Jermaine Carter Jr. should also help the Panthers this season as he is perceived to man Thompson’s recently vacated position as the weak side (Will) linebacker. Everyone league wide knows the kind of perennial Pro-Bowler that Kuechly is. Possibly an all-time, team great, and Future Hall of Fame player, Kuechly automatically makes any defense above average from the middle linebacker position. Thompson and Carter Jr. are both players who are trending up. Thompson, the soon to be fifth-year player has improved every year since being drafted in 2015. The heir to the strong side linebacker (Sam), Thompson is a tackling machine that can run sideline to sideline and defend multiple positions. While at the University of Washington, Thompson played several positions (safety, linebacker, and running back) during his three-year collegiate career. Carter Jr., the soon to be second year pro is also a young player with great potential.

A four-year player, Carter notched at least 90 tackles in his last three seasons at the University of Maryland. Though he may need more time to grow into a better and more fluid linebacker, Carter has the ability and potential to contribute and excel as a weak side linebacker. The only thing missing for the Panthers would be a solid compliment to Kuechly on the inside. Sure, the Panthers could potentially slide Thompson to the inside where he’s experimented in small doses, but the best course of action would be to find a new face to pair with the six-time Pro Bowler. Ideally, you’d look for a veteran with experience over a rookie or new player with little to no experience, but a talented player with great mobility and a high IQ could be an average to better than average fit in this scheme.

Possible Linebackers: Clay Matthews (33, OLB) K.J. Wright (30, OLB), Will Compton (29), Manti Te’o (28), Jordan Hicks (27), Shane Ray (26, OLB), Kwon Alexander (25)